The Bad Boy's Girl (COMPLETE)

Leaving Him

     I felt really sick the next few days, and one day I just woke up from an afternoon nap. I showered. We didn't talk much since I requested him to drop me to my own old house and he did. Probably screaming with joy and having five girls over, and his old friends, having the time of his life. I scoff.

     I press my towel against my head, then dry my hair more and gasp at the huge kick that sent me wailing. Babies are getting strong. I step out of the bathroom, heading downstairs, and I clutched my stomach lightly.

"My darling. You're here." Umma greets me, wiping her wet hands on her apron and coming over to sit down beside me, interrupting my heavy and depressing thoughts. Even the sky is grey today. The clouds loom over the depressed, faded sky as if they're about to burst into tears.

Like me, I guess.

Maybe I'm being too dramatic. I guess it's just my pregnancy hormones or something. Umma interrupts my thoughts, tapping my shoulder just as I silently wipe a tear from the corner of my eye.

"Annie?" Concern laces her voice. I turn to look at her, smiling through my sadness. I have to be strong. For her. For my mother who has dealt with everything from the day Baba had a heart attack. She's constantly worried not only for him but for my sudden marriage, too, and for my children and delivery and me and Amir's relationship terms. She knows we're not perfect. Our marriage decision was decided in the spur of the moment. She knows we're not as good as I always tell her when she calls.

She knows. Her hazel, shining eyes. They know.

"Umma. I've missed you." I grip the mug she gives me. It contains a series of colours. A mixed fruit cocktail smoothie.

"I've missed my daughter more." She whispers, planting a ghost of a kiss on my forehead before pulling away to smile at me.

"So - um, how's Baba?" I ask her. My father is the whole reason why I got married to Amir in the first place. Otherwise my family would never even consider his proposal. Which, ironically, he was also forced to do. The groom nor the bride actually wanted it. But we ended up together. I guess it was my fate.

"He's better, alhamdulillah." My mother confesses, honesty swirling in her eyes. She's never lied to me, or anyone. She tries her best to be honest, always. I love that about her. "He's finally. . Finally happy. That you're expecting." She ushers to my growing stomach. "He's glad because he knows Amir wasn't right for you. But these kids. They'll change everything. Kids. They're beautiful. A girl or a boy. They change your life, Annie. I promise you a better future." Her eyes don't lie.

"Thank you, umma." I finally murmur. "I hope this will bring happiness to my life. Not only mine, but Amir's and Baba's and yours too." I plaster on a fake smile, finishing off my smoothie. Umma really knows how to heal my wounds with her words. But if only she knew that it wasn't that simple.

"Why don't I take care of that while you go ahead and pray." Umma suggests, and I nod.

        Just as I bend down to grab the prayer mat from the coffee table, my stomach pains again and I grip it. Great.

     Baby cramps. I still pray but my cramps are too much and umma catches me trying to pray. "Beta just sit and pray! It's no sin! Allah sees your intention." She wisely suggested and I nodded.

     After praying umma and me talked for a while and then she gave me more fruits, Advil for my head, milk, and rice for lunch.

     Bhai entered the room and baba did too. We then watched some tv and Aleena tagged along, Anas sleeping soundly in Aleena and Usman Bhai's room upstairs in our cozy little house. I was glad to be back with my family, all curled up and happy.